Comprehensive Creek Planning Initiative Update

Boulder County’s Comprehensive Creek Planning Initiative (CCP) is helping the county move forward with long-term creek recovery by initiating watershed-level master planning processes throughout the county. The master planning process is an open and collaborative effort among public agencies, property owners, ditch companies, stakeholders, and the public. Please visit www.BoulderCountyCreekPlan.org to find out how you can participate.

Draft Master Plans

It is a critical time for the countywide creek planning effort. Many of the master plan projects now have draft documents available for review and comment by the public. The draft reports include:

• Ecological Assessments:  Identifies critical riparian ecosystem elements that are damaged or absent from the creek system and will help identify appropriate restoration strategies.
• Geomorphic Assessments: Identifies channel characteristics, stability, and historic location and will help identify appropriate flood risk reduction and restoration strategies.
• Alternatives Analysis: Presentation of potential projects for creek re-alignment, bank stabilization, and erosion repair.

Input from residents on the draft master plans is essential for ensuring that they meet the needs of the community. Here is specific information about each one:

Fourmile Creek-

• Over 50 people attended the Fourmile Creek Master Plan kick-off meeting on September, 3^rd. If you were unable to attend, you can view the presentation or submit questions or comments to the project team.

Left Hand Creek-

• Field work is complete and the project team is working on the draft master plan. There will be a meeting in mid-October to get feedback on the draft master plan.
• Visit the project website for updates.

St. Vrain Creek-

• The draft Alternatives Analysis Report is complete. You can find the document on the project website. Comments on the report should be submitted by October 3, 2014. You can submit comments by calling 720-407-4786 or emailing stvrainmasterplan@nullprojects.mbakercorp.com.
• A final meeting to present the final plan will be held in early November.

Upper Coal Creek-

• The draft master plan is complete and comments are being accepted. For more information, contact Chris Garre at chris@nulltegcolorado.org or call 303-586-1491.

Little Thompson-

• The draft master plan is complete and available on the Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition’swebsite.
• There will be meetings on September 29, 2014 and October 3, 2014 to provide input. Call 877-495-9157 for more information.

Project Implementation

Now that the master plans are nearing completion, Boulder County is holding discussions with other agencies, landowners, and stakeholders to start laying the foundation for post-master plan project coordination and implementation. Long-term success of creek recovery and restoration depends on ongoing involvement from local agencies, residents, landowners, and other stakeholders in the community. Contact Stacey Proctor at 303-441-1107 or sproctor@nullbouldercounty.org if you would like to participate in discussions about what happens next.  

 For more information, including the most current information about other creeks in Boulder County, please visit www.BoulderCountyCreekPlan.org or contact Stacey Proctor, 303-441-1107.